RAL stakeholder engagement ensures successful implementation of the Tshikanoshi road project

RAL STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

ENSURES SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TSHIKANOSHI ROAD PROJECT

Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) recently stepped in to resolve issues relating to late payments of local Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and labourers during the upgrading of roads D2922 and D2919 (from gravel to bituminous surface) from

Keerom to Doornlaagte via Tshikanoshi (Leeuwkuil) in the

Sekhukhune District.

The intervention by RAL’s Stakeholder Relations and Community Development Unit ensured the successful completion of the state-of-the-art road in Sekhukhune which links the community of Tshikanoshi and nearby villages with the Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces.

The 13.55km road project commenced in June 2018 and was completed in February 2022.

According to Ms Gauta Malotane, Assistant Project Manager for SRCD, in all these challenges constant communication was a

key determinant between RAL, the contractor, Project Steering Committees (PSC) and the Community Liaison Officer (CLO) who promptly relayed updates to the workers. “After everything that had happened, the contractor was cooperative and we are glad that nearly all challenges were resolved, except for a few glitches which will be resolved in due course,” reported Malotane.

“ALTHOUGH WE HAD AN ISSUE OF LATE

PAYMENTS, WE ARE HAPPY THAT

THROUGH RAL’S GUIDANCE AND

PROCESSES, FINALLY EVERYTHING HAS BEEN ADDRESSED TO THE SATISFACTION OF ALL THE PARTIES

INVOLVED.”

Tshikanoshi road project linking Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces.

The intervention efforts by RAL, according to Malotane, demonstrates a hands-on approach the Agency has on every project implementation. “As RAL, we do not hand over contractors to communities and fold our arms. We remain involved through different departments such as the SRCD to monitor the progress and ensure that all the necessary processes are followed to address any disputes that might arise.”

In addition, Malotane said, “It is the responsibility of RAL to ensure that community members get acquainted with all the processes pertaining to road projects so that their rights are protected, and that they are not exploited in

“AS RAL, WE DO NOT HAND

OVER CONTRACTORS TO COMMUNITIES AND FOLD OUR ARMS. WE REMAIN INVOLVED THROUGH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS

THE SRCD TO MONITOR THE

PROGRESS AND ENSURE THAT

ALL THE NECESSARY PROCESSES

ARE FOLLOWED TO ADDRESS ANY

DISPUTES THAT MIGHT ARISE.”

Mr Musa Ndlovu: RAL Project Manager (left) and Mr Mpho Mogaladi: CLO for Tshikanoshi Road Project

Mr Puleng Mampane: Safety Officer for Tshikanoshi Road Project (left) and Ms Gauta Malotane: RAL’s Assistant Project Manager for Stakeholder Relations and Community Development

the process.”

In addition, Musa Ndlovu, RAL’s Project Manager said that although the project was plagued with challenges which resulted in the considerable extension of the original time given, “I’m delighted that finally, we have delivered a quality road to the targeted communities. It is important to note that road infrastructure service delivery is our core business as RAL and all the issues that threaten delivering on our mandate need to be dealt with swiftly to keep our focus on the main objective,” Ndlovu highlighted.

According to Mr Mpho Mogaladi, from Doornlaagte (Klopper) who served in the project as the CLO responsible for facilitating the relationship between the contractor, workers, SMMEs, and RAL, “although we had an issue of late payments, we are happy that through RAL’s guidance and processes, finally everything has been addressed to the satisfaction of all parties involved.”

Mr Puleng Mampane, from Keerom village who served in the project as Safety Officer, appreciated the way RAL handled their matter. “We would like to thank all RAL employees Scan the QR Code to watch this story. who were involved in the project because they didn’t hesitate to help when we had challenges. They ensured that we got our money within a week after their intervention.”

Despite the challenges encountered during the construction of the road, community members alluded to how the road project has empowered and helped them in different ways.